KnowBe4 vs Qualys: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for KnowBe4 and Qualys side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, KnowBe4 leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
KnowBe4
Reduce human and AI agent risk with an end-to-end human risk management platform.
Best for you if:
- • You want reduces 'Phish-prone' percentage significantly
Qualys
Cloud security and compliance platform
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise vulnerability management
| At a Glance | KnowBe4 | Qualys |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | From $199/year VMDR plan |
Category | Security Compliance Management | Vulnerability Scanning Compliance Management |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 2,424 reviews | 4.2/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.0 · Trustpilot 3.2 202 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Potential for high minimum seat counts | n/a |
Choose KnowBe4 or Qualys?
Choose KnowBe4 if
- You want reduces 'Phish-prone' percentage significantly
- You want integrates compliance and security training into one platform
- You work in security, not vulnerability scanning
Choose Qualys if
- You want enterprise vulnerability management
- You want good scanning
- You work in vulnerability scanning, not security
In-Depth Analysis
KnowBe4
Reduce human and AI agent risk with an end-to-end human risk management platform.
Watch out
Potential for high minimum seat counts
Strengths
- Pro: Reduces 'Phish-prone' percentage significantly.
- Pro: Integrates compliance and security training into one platform.
- Pro: Offers AI-powered defense agents for real-time risk detection and mitigation.
- Pro: Provides a comprehensive toolkit for assessing and improving an organization's security posture.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing details are not publicly available, requiring a demo request.
- Con: Requires active participation from employees for training effectiveness.
- Con: Implementation and customization may require dedicated IT resources.
Key features
Qualys
Cloud security and compliance platform
Qualys is enterprise-grade vulnerability management.
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise vulnerability management
- Pro: Good scanning
- Pro: Cloud-based
- Pro: Comprehensive
- Pro: Industry established
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex platform
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Per-asset pricing
- Con: UI dated
Key features
Plans and prices: KnowBe4 vs Qualys
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KnowBe4 |
| knowbe4.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
| Qualys |
| qualys.com read Oct 8, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on KnowBe4 pricing and Qualys pricing.
Key Takeaways
KnowBe4
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.2/5
Qualys
- Choose if you want cloud security and compliance platform
What the data shows
On the data below, KnowBe4 leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- KnowBe4 has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 2,424 reviews for KnowBe4, 4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys).
- Qualys starts at $199/year; KnowBe4 has no public paid plan price on file.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do KnowBe4 and Qualys compare in 2026?
On the data below, KnowBe4 leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. KnowBe4 has the higher user rating (4.6/5 from 2,424 reviews for KnowBe4, 4.2/5 from 202 reviews for Qualys). Qualys starts at $199/year; KnowBe4 has no public paid plan price on file.
What are KnowBe4 and Qualys used for?
KnowBe4: Reduce human and AI agent risk with an end-to-end human risk management platform. Qualys: Cloud security and compliance platform.
What does KnowBe4 cost vs Qualys?
KnowBe4 has no public paid-plan price on file. Qualys's cheapest paid plan is VMDR at $199/year. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between KnowBe4 and Qualys?
KnowBe4's main strength: reduces 'Phish-prone' percentage significantly. Qualys's main strength: enterprise vulnerability management.